New Guinea Impatiens named `BFP-684 Scarlet`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct New Guinea Impatiens cultivar named `BFP-684 Scarlet` is provided. This new cultivar was the result of a controlled breeding program wherein the `Tahiti` cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,601) was pollinated by the `Raspberry Rose` cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,212). The new cultivar forms large scarlet red flowers that display an iridescent appearance. The foliage is medium green in coloration. An attractive compact upright growth habit is exhibited. The new cultivar can be readily distinguished from the `BSR-181 Bright Scarlet` cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,406).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinctive Impatiens plant,botanically known as New Guinea Impatiens, and hereinafter is referredto by the cultivar name `BFP-684 Scarlet`.

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program. Morespecifically, the breeding program which resulted in the production ofthe new cultivar was carried out in a controlled environment during 1993at Arroyo Grande, Calif., U.S.A. The female parent (i.e., the seedparent) was the `Tahiti` cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,601) whichexhibits light pink blossoms, dark green foliage, and a compact growthhabit. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the `RaspberryRose` cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,212) which exhibits rose pinkblooms with a white eye, medium green foliage, and a medium growthhabit. The parentage of the new cultivar can be summarized as follows:

    `Tahiti`×`Raspberry Rose`.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and plantletswere obtained which were physically and biologically different from eachother. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plantof the new cultivar. This plant initially was designated BFP-684.

It was found that the new cultivar of the present invention:

(a) exhibits attractive large scarlet red flowers,

(b) forms medium green foliage,

(c) exhibits a good basal branching character, and

(d) exhibits a compact upright growth habit.

The new plant exhibits good vigor and is very free-flowering. Thescarlet blossoms contrast nicely with the medium green foliage. Plantsof the new cultivar can be grown close together in the greenhouse.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal or stem cuttingstaken during 1994, at Arroyo Grande, Calif., U.S.A. has demonstratedthat the characteristics of the new cultivar as herein described arefirmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of suchasexual propagation.

The `BFP-684 Scarlet` cultivar has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such astemperature, light intensity, and day length.

When the new cultivar of the present invention is compared to the`BSR-181 Bright Scarlet` cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,406), it isfound that the new cultivar exhibits smaller flowers and a more compactgrowth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar are marketed under the CELEBRETTE trademarkby the Ball Horticultural Company.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, atypical specimen of an overall plant of the new cultivar. The plant wasgrown in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.The plants were produced from cuttings taken from stock plants of thenew cultivar and were transplanted during early November into 10 cm. (4inch pots) and were grown in a soilless growth medium under standardgreenhouse conditions at West Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. The greenhousetemperature was maintained at approximately 72° F. during the day andapproximately 65° F. during the night. The plants were in flower eightto nine weeks later when the observations described hereafter weretaken.

Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal tip.

Time to initiate roots.--Approximately 14 to 21 days with the shortertimes generally being experienced in the summer and the longer times inthe winter.

Rooting habit.--Fibrous, and branching.

Plant description:

Form.--Basal branching.

Habit of growth.--Compact upright mounded Internode lengths ofapproximately 1.7 to 2.2 cm. commonly are exhibited. A mature plantcommonly measures approximately 6 to 7 cm. in height and approximately15 to 18 cm. in width. This compares to a height of approximately 8 to 9cm. and a width of approximately 19 to 25 cm. for the `BSR-181 BrightScarlet` cultivar.

Foliage.--The configuration is elliptic with an acuminate apex and anacuminate base. The mature leaves of the new cultivar measureapproximately 7.7 to 9 cm. in length×approximately 3 to 3.1 cm. inmaximal width compared to approximately 10 to 12 cm. inlength×approximately 2.9 to 3 cm. in maximal width for the `BSR-181Bright Scarlet` cultivar. The leaf margins are serrate (as illustrated).The mature foliage of new cultivar is Green Group 139A (adaxial), andGreen Group 137C (abaxial) for both the new cultivar and the `BSR-181Bright Scarlet` cultivar. The stem coloration is Yellow-Green Group 145Cwhich can be compared to Green Group 135C for the `BSR-181 BrightScarlet` cultivar.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.--Freely flowering.

Natural flowering season.--Throughout the year in a greenhouseenvironment.

Flowers borne.--Above foliage, arising from leaf axils.

Flower color.--Lighter and brighter than Red Group 45B with the centersof the lower two petals being Red Group 53C (adaxial), and Red Group 45C(abaxial). This can be compared to Red Group 44B (adaxial) and Red Group42A (abaxial) for the `BSR-181 Bright Scarlet` cultivar.

Quantity of flowers.--Approximately 3 to 5 per axil which can becompared to approximately 4 to 6 per axil for the `BSR-181 BrightScarlet` cultivar.

Number of petals.--Five, and overlapping.

Petal shape.--Heart-shaped to rounded.

Flower size.--Approximately 6 to 5.5 cm. in length and approximately 6.5to 7 cm. in width. This can be compared to approximately 7 to 7.5 cm. inlength and approximately 7 to 7.3 cm. in width for the `BSR-181 BrightScarlet` cultivar.

Flower buds.--Ellipsoidal in configuration, and generally covered withthree sepals plus two rudimentary sepals fused into the under surface ofthe superior petal. A spur originating from the base of the inferiorsepal is approximately 5 to 5.3 cm. in length on fully opened flowerswhich can be compared to a length of approximately 6.5 to 7.0 cm. forthe spur of the `BSR-181 Bright Scarlet` cultivar. The spur colorationis Red Group 53A which can be compared to Red Group 47A for `BSR-181Bright Scarlet` cultivar.

Reproductive organs.--The stamens are Red Group 45C at the base andgenerally are colorless at the outer edge. The anthers tend to be fusedtogether forming one organ that surrounds the pistil. Commonly theanthers shed pollen prior to the stigma becoming receptive. The pollencoloration is Yellow Group 11D, and the ovary coloration is Green Group141A. This can be compared to a stamen coloration of Red-Purple Group63A at the base and generally colorless at the outer edge, a pollencoloration of White Group 155D, and an ovary coloration of Yellow-GreenGroup 144D for the `BSR-181 Bright Scarlet` cultivar.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plantnamed `BFP-684 Scarlet`, substantially as herein shown and described,which:(a) exhibits attractive large scarlet red flowers, (b) formsmedium green foliage, (c) exhibits a good basal branching character, and(d) exhibits a compact upright growth habit.